It takes a certain spirit to put yourself on the front lines, to ask for contributions, and know that more often than not, the answer is no. Yet you believe, so you keep at it. When it works, it feels like magic, but you know it had a lot to do with your good strategy and hard work.
We don't always succeed. Our world is troubled and ever more complex. Problems don't go away. The need for resources increases. Challenge reigns. That's why it's so important to take some time to pause, reflect, and appreciate the good that was accomplished this year.
On the eve of this holiday weekend, our gratitude goes to the many talented and dedicated people we work with every day. You help maintain our conviction that there's tremendous value in seeking solutions, striving for excellence, and doing work that makes a difference.
Our wish for you in the New Year is to be inspired... to work with joy... to learn, share and laugh with colleagues near and far. And always, the ultimate -- to meet your goals!
All the best from the LKA team. Happy holidays, and we'll be back in January!
Photo by Jim Lewis.
...A CEO who raises money.
In this article printed in the public broadcasting newspaper, Current, Norm Silverstein, CEO of WXXI in Rochester, New York, outlines his seven rules to succeed in fundraising -- ideas that easily apply to the world outside the CEOs office too. Take a few minutes to read his stories about the experiences that helped him develop these rules.
#1 It's all about relationships
#2 Develop a "Top 20" list
#3 Turn your mistakes into opportunities
#4 Your major donors want you to succeed
#5 Don't let the "Fear of No" paralyze you
#6 Start a planned giving program -- Now!
#7 It starts with the board
Be passionate about your role in making the world a better place.
Be direct in your requests for support.
Work as a team to build a powerfully persuasive case.
Never stop asking.
Never stop appreciating.
Do this all year round!
The National Audubon Society's year-end campaign combines the idea of holiday giving with a match.
Points awarded for the strong, clear, direct, call-to-action language. "You Count" and "Donate Now," for example. Points for the bright image of the snowman and birds that effectively draws the eye and generates a warm emotion about the gift you're about to make.
Two issues:
1)
The donate button on the splash page doesn't work, at least not on my standard platform and browser. This speaks to the importance of having a plan to test your technology -- with multiple testers on multiple platforms and browsers. This is not the time to experience technical glitches that encourage people to click away and give to someone else. A seamless online experience matters.
2)
Audubon's matching language says, "Donations will be matched dollar-for-dollar, up to $100,000, until December 31." Does this mean that the matching fund is $100,000 total? Or does it mean that it's virtually unlimited, and every very generous donor who comes through with a giant gift of $100,000 will have their gift matched? Language matters. Here's more from us about the challenge of challenges here.
18 days to go.... Make them count! Make them shine!
"Limitations force you to find the essence of what you want to say." -- Julie Taymor
It's the rare nonprofit that believes they have enough resources to accomplish all they want to do. Yet the most successful don't waste their time whining about what they don't have. They find ways to make what they do have bigger.
They drill down to the essential, then use the powerful forces of creativity, imagination and strategy to make every moment and every effort count.
Julie Taymor is celebrated for the way she brings things to life within the limitations of the stage. What a great time of year to take her approach, to reflect on your aspirations for the year to come, and figure out how you can make your limitations work for you instead of letting them stop you in your tracks.
In today's world, it's imperative to have an online presence in order to succeed, and sometimes even to remain relevant.
This article from New York Magazine by Nathan Heller, gives some insightful perspectives on how the culture of the web has developed and changed in recent years.
His conclusion is one that many of us in fundraising and marketing have seen demonstrated by results (or the lack thereof), particularly in the social media sphere.
"Good faith has become indistinguishable from good speech, and agreeable words risk outweighing the actions that push them towards fruition."
It's an engaging read that's well worth consideration if you have anything to do with crafting messages or raising money online.
Today's spin for engaging year-end ideas landed here at Mercy Corps.
It's a well-done twist on a growing tradition -- the gift of a contribution.
In this case, not only is the contribution inspiring and concrete... a community garden... a bike... a beehive... the true beauty of this offer is that it pairs the contribution with a small token gift that perfectly matches the purpose of the donation, and recognizes the pleasure of giving.
The photos, copy and presentation are charming, allowing you to easily envision the good you'll do with your contribution, as well as the joy you'll have when the recipient opens their gift.
The proof, of course, is in the results. We'll follow up after the holidays to see how it worked.
Information flows openly and quickly. Controversy can strike in moments.
Nonprofit organizations are particularly at risk for scrutiny, as they hold a special place in the hearts of the people who care about them. A poor response can erode trust and impact your efforts to engage the community and raise funds for years to come.
Preparation matters.
Effective crisis communication and management does not come naturally. Confidence comes from practice. Identify your core spokespeople and leaders. Provide them with regular training and information to build skills. Continuously think ahead about issues that may come forward. And don't step up to the microphone without having spoken key points out loud more than once.
Presentation matters.
Answer questions clearly and concisely.
Don't ever say anything you may later need to retract.
If you don't know the answer, admit it, say what you'll do to find out, and move on.
Never discount the concern of the public by saying things like "this is not a big issue," or "you don't understand how this works." That may be true, but it's your job to respect their concerns and walk them through the facts to build a greater understanding.
Crisis is never a welcome circumstance. It comes to nearly every organization at one time or another. It means that people care.
These days, the Oregon Zoo has it all -- an amazing baby elephant that's generating "likes," buzz and donations aplenty. If only we all had cute little animals to tell our stories and raise more money.
The fact is, every organization has something special. So what do you have? What's unique and compelling about your organization? And how does that translate into images and stories to connect emotionally with what you do?
Well-crafted images and stories can add to the power of your cause.
The Nature Conservancy provides a great example on social media.
Their post about Giving Tuesday creates a strong connection between nature and people, with an uniquely framed image that invites you to engage in what's going on.
This fun, limited-time offer has an eye-catching headline, "Get a jump on your tax-deductible donation today and receive a free 2013 calendar, while supplies last!" (Yes, they have animals too....) Yet, it puts a positive spin on donations and has the perfect look and tone for social media.
And finally, they give a nod to the idea of planned giving, with this post, "Spending a lot this holiday season? Here’s a
better idea: A charitable gift annuity can provide future income and
support nature too! Learn how charitable gift annuities pay you back." The image they chose is effective because it evokes the very things a nature-lover would care about when planning their legacy -- timelessness, beauty, life and preservation.
